Under-pressure Gateshead Thunder coach Seamus McCallion remained defiant after the rock-bottom Tynesiders were hammered 44-12 in their basement battle against Workington Town yesterday.

A game between two sides which had lost 12 of their 13 National League games saw the Cumbrians run in eight tries as Thunder's long winless run continued.

Workington had failed to win any of their last three games on Tyneside but there was never any danger of Gateshead repeating their memorable 42-12 victory over Town last April.

McCallion, however, still believes his struggling side can win five of their remaining 11 league games despite Thunder failing to win for 26 matches.

He said: "The performance against Workington was our worst for several weeks but there is still two thirds of the league season to go and we can still finish with five wins.

"We have had to to mix and match with students and union players and it is not easy attracting new blood when you are bottom of the league and have no money.

"If anyone wants to step in and feels they can do a better job I will step aside but I enjoy working with the players and I believe we are improving."

Cumbrian-based Craig Fisher will miss the next three games while Army trio Liam Garside, Ben Hodgson and Tony Cowburn will also be unavailable for three weeks when they go on a rugby league tour of Australia.

McCallion, however, insists a squad which has lost 15 of its 16 games this season can still turn the corner.

He said: "If we had played to our potential against Workington and lost heavily I would be worried.

"But we can do much better and, while we have not enough players of National League standard, two players can make a big difference."

Thunder briefly led against Workington following an early Paul Thorman penalty but the Cumbrians soon replied with three tries.

Gateshead were limited to a consolation try in each half with winger Robin Peers surging run from inside the home 20 providing a last-minute first-half touchdown for centre Craig Firth.

Thunder conceded two early tries after the break as Town dominated before hooker Neil Thorman scurried over from dummy half.

But Workington remained on top and added 12 points in the last three minutes, Kiwi Jonny Limmer and prop Matt Tunstall joining scrum half Tane Manihera with two tries.